To meet the shortfall of doctors in rural areas, the members in a consultative committee meeting under the health ministry on Wednesday proposed mandatory rural service by medical graduates, said a statement released by the ministry.

“The MPs said that the bachelor in rural health care course should be introduced to overcome the shortfall of doctors in rural areas,” said the release.

It was also suggested that funds under the national rural health mission (NRHM) should be allotted to states based on their performance and targets achieved. Members stressed on the need for better monitoring mechanism of NRHM activities to improve the implementation of schemes under it. Members also commented that ASHAs are being overburdened.

Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad suggested that Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) could include expenditure on local health camps so that some funds out Rs 5 crore could be utilized for improving health care delivery.

He said the health ministry could assist in organizing technical help for the same but funds could come from MPLADS funds of each MP.

The MPs who attended the meeting included Deepa Dashmunshi (INC), Davidson J Helen (DMK), Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (TMC) and Datta R Meghe (INC), Dr. P. Venugopal (AIADMK), Bishnu Pada Ray (BJP), Dr. M.Jagannath (INC), Moti Lal Vora (INC), P.J.Kurien (INC), K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao (INC), Oscar Fernandes (INC), Abani Roy (RSP), Baishnab Parida (BJD), Dr V Maitreyan (AIADMK) and Inder Singh Namdhari (Independent).